GLOSSARY

Bitch
Check - Prior to running a test, all females are checked to
determine if they are in heat. If a female is found to be in heat it is
scratched from the test and is not permitted at any test site.

Blind
Retrieve – A bird previously hidden and unknown to the working
dog. The dog is directed to the bird under control of the handler. Blind
retrieves are tested at the Seasoned level and above. Commonly called a
‘blind.’

Bubba
Gunner - Shooter in the field who fires a shot at some point in
the test.

Break
– Occurs when a dog leaves the line prior to being released by the handler.

Controlled
Break – Occurs when the handler stops the forward progress of a
dog that has left the line prior to being released by the handler.

Creeping
- Occurs when the dog moves forward but does not leave the line prior to being
released by the handler.

Diversion
– A bird thrown in clear view of the working dog, at Seasoned level and above,
while the working dog is returning from a retrieve. The dog should not switch
the bird in mouth for the diversion bird or it will be marked down in its
scoring at the Seasoned level and will fail the test at the Finished and Grand
level.

Dog in
Contention – A dog that is entered in the hunt test.

Dog’s
Number – The official number a dog is given unique to that dog
at a hunt test. The dog’s number is found in the program given to each handler
at check-in. This is the number a handler gives to the judges when going to the
line.

Drag
Back - Bird scent left on vegetation in the field as a dog
returns to the line with a bird.

Finished
– The advanced level for a dog to compete, a higher level of difficulty than
Seasoned. Fifteen (15) UKC championship points are awarded for a Finished pass.

Flight
– The group of dogs running a specific test.

Flight
Assignment – The particular flight to which a dog is assigned,
found in the program given to all handlers at check-in.

Grand
-The "Super Bowl" of hunt tests. Grand tests are held once each
Spring and Fall. A Grand test consists of two land series, two water series,
and an upland series. This is the only level in HRC where dogs are
"cut" after each series. A Grand pass earns the dog 40 points.

Handler
– The person directing a dog during a test. May be different than the dog’s
owner.

Handlers
Meeting – A pre-test meeting of all handlers at a test site.
The judges will welcome everyone, explain the test objectives, run the test
with a test dog and review gun safety.

Holding
Blind – A barrier placed near the line for the next dog in the
running order. The holding blind prevents the next dog from viewing the test.

Honor
Dog – Used at the Finished, Upland and Grand levels. An honor
dog remains at heel with its handler while the working dog runs the test. The
honor dog must remain under control at all times and is under judgement until
released by the judges.

Hunt
Test – A dog competition where each dog is judged against a
test standard on a pass or fail basis. Dogs are not placed, i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd,
etc. Weekend tests are comprised of a land and water series. During a weekend
event a test is conducted on Saturday and Sunday. A dog may run either or both
days.

Land
Series – The land portion of a test.

Lead
– A short rope used to walk a dog and keep it under control.

Line
– The place where dog and handler run the test as directed by the judges. This
can also refer to the direction towards a bird.

Marked
Retrieve – A bird thrown in clear view of the working dog,
commonly called a ‘mark.’

No Bird
– Called by the judges when an error occurs while a test is underway. For
example, a winger malfunction that prevented a proper throw.

Pass
Slip – The official certificate given to a handler after a dog
passes a test. Pass slips are pink and sometimes referred to as ‘pink slips.’
All pass slips should be filed in a safe place and are proof of a dog’s
championship points.

Poison
Bird – A mark which is not allowed to be retrieved until some
other action is completed by the working dog- usually a blind retrieve. This is
rarely used in HRC tests, but often used in AKC tests.

Popper
– The shotgun shell used by a handler in a hunt test. For safety reasons, it
contains no actual shot but only a primer to simulate the report from firing a
shotgun.

Popping
– A dog stopping on its own without command and turning to look at its handler
for direction.

Premium
– The official form to enter a dog in a hunt test.

Running
Order – The testing order of dogs as assigned by the site
marshal. It is usually given after the handlers meeting. Running order is not
to be confused with the dog’s number.

Running
Water – Water shallow enough a dog can run through and does not
have to swim.

Safe Gun
– A gun with breech open and safety on, pointed in a safe direction.

Seasoned
– The intermediate level for a dog to compete, a higher level of difficulty
than Started, which adds blind retrieves, a diversion and a walk up. Ten (10)
UKC championship points are awarded for a Seasoned pass.

Shot
Flyer - A live bird that is actually thrown and shot. Always
used in AKC tests. Rarely used in HRC tests.

Site
Marshall – The person responsible at each test site for
assigning running order and managing the test site to ensure it runs smoothly.
Any questions a handler may have should be directed to the site marshal once
the test begins.

Scratch
– removing a dog from contention due to injury, illness or bitch in heat.

Started
– The beginner level for a dog to compete, consisting of marked retrieves only.
Five (5) UKC championship points are awarded for a Started pass.

Suction
– Something in the field that may entice a dog off the straight line to a bird.

Test Dog
– A designated dog, qualified to run in the test but not in contention, used to
demonstrate the entire test. The test dog is run immediately after the handlers
meeting and prior to any dogs in competition. The host club is responsible for
providing a test dog.

Walk Up
– A portion of a test at the Seasoned level and above, where the working dog is
walking at heel with its handler. A bird is thrown by an assigned bird boy and
shot by the handler. The dog must remain under control at all times and
retrieve the bird, while the handler maintains gun safety.

Water
Series – The water portion of a test.

Winger
– a mechanical device designed to throw a bird.

Working
Dog – the dog running a test under judgment.

RETRIEVER TITLES

AKC Field Trials

These are not pass/fail competitions. Only the top 4 finishers get points. These are the dogs to look for in your pedigree! Less than 1% of dogs get their FC/AFC. A dog at a field trial event can be expected to do a 300 yard retrieve. While these are not the same as real hunting situations, they demonstrate complete mastery of the retrieve.

NFC = National Field Champion : This title is awarded once yearly to the dog that wins the National Open. It is the most coveted of all retriever field titles.

NAFC = National Amateur Field Champion : This title is awarded once yearly to the dog that wins the National Amateur. This competition is much like the National Open except that all handlers are amateurs.

FC = Field Champion : This title is awarded to dogs that have won first place at a licensed field trial and have acquired 5 additional points.

AFC = Amateur Field Champion : This title is earned as above (FC) when handled by an amateur or by winning an Amateur stake at a field trial and acquiring 10 additional Amateur points.

QAA = Qualified All Age. You will see this often. It is an unofficial title title, but does not show up on registration. QAA is commonly viewed as the stepping-stone between derbies and all age events, although some say it is a pronouncement that the dog is now proficient enough to be competitive in all-age events. The qualifying is one event where you can see the greatest variability in the difficulty of each series. There is typically a set of land marks, a land blind, water blind and water marks. The designation of QAA means that you can run a Limited or Special all age stake.

AKC Hunt Tests

Hunt Tests are non-Competitive tests in which the dog (and handler) is measured against a standard. If the dog (and handler) meet the standard, a "pass" is earned. These tests are designed to resemble actual hunting situations. Each organization has different requirements yet is equally difficult and resembles different hunting scenarios. Hunt Tests are the most popular field events. Retrieves in hunt tests are typically around 100 yards.

JH = Junior Hunter : This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 4 passes at the Junior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the beginning level in the AKC Hunt Test program. For a single pass a dog must complete two water retrieves and two land retrieves and deliver tthe bird to the handlers hand. The dog is supposed to show restraint at the line and not go charging out until given the command. While this may seem basic, the following are just a few scenarious in which a dog will be disqualified: Biting down on the bird, not delivering to hand, breaking without having their name called, not finding a bird, excessive whining, barking, taking too long on a retrieve, not heeling, not sitting. Most hunters are quite happy with a dog capable of achieving a JH.

SH = Senior Hunter : This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 5 passes (4 with a JH title) at the Senior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the level at which most hunting retrievers run. Retrieves are similar to that of the Junior test, with the addition of a blind retrieves, doubles, and an honor (not charging out when a different dogs name is called).

MH = Master Hunter : This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 6 passes (5 with a SH title) at the Master level in a licensed Hunt Test. Similar to the Senior test, but diversion and poison birds are used. Marks get progressively more difficult from the juniors to the seniors and to the masters.

MNH = Master National Hunter : This is an AKC title that is earned by qualifying, competing, and passing three Master National events. These events typically consist of 6 different series and any dog competing must be pre-qualified by passing a certain number of tests within a specified annual time period.

UKC Hunt Test Titles

SHR = Started Hunt Retriever : Similar to an AKC JH. A United Kennel Club/Hunting Retriever club title used as a prefix, before the name. A started hunting retriever should be able to perform a simple dove or waterfowl hunt, retriever both from land and water. This test is for inexperienced or young retrievers where the judges look for natural ability rather than trained performance. Consists of four tests, two tests shall be marked water retrievers (singles) and two will be marked land retrieves (singles). Distances rarely exceed 75 yards on land and 60 yards on water. Awarded to a dog that has passed four Started tests. Each Started pass equal 5 points, however only a maximum of 10 Championship points can be earned in this category towards a higher title.

HR = Hunting Retriever : This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 40 points. 30 of those points must be at the Seasoned or Finished level. A Seasoned pass is worth 10 points.

HRCH = Hunting Retriever Champion : This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 60 of which must be earned at the Finished level. A Finished pass is worth 15 points.

GRHRCH = Grand Hunting Retriever Champion : This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 300 points of which 80 points must come from the HRC Grand Hunt. 1 Grand pass is worth 40 points. This is the highest possible hunt test title offered in the UKC.

UH = Upland Hunter : This is a UKC title that is available for those that train their dogs for upland bird hunting. 40 points must be acquired. A pass is worth 10 points.

NAHRA

NAHRA tests, like the AKC hunt tests, are designed to simulate actual hunting situations.

SR = Started Retriever : This is the entry level NAHRA title. This title is earned by acquiring 10 points. At this level, a pass is worth 2.5 points.

WR = Working Retriever : This is a NAHRA title that is earned by acquiring 20 points in the Intermediate level. At this level and higher, a pass is worth 5 points.

MHR = Master Hunting Retriever : This is a NAHRA title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 80 of which must be earned at the Senior level.

GMHR = Grand Master Hunting Retriever : This is a NAHRA title which is earned by acquiring 300 points at the Senior level. This is the highest possible title offered by NAHRA.

Super Retriever Series

Super Retriever Series events are combo type events where any mix of different types of tests may be setup to test the dog. Typical events consist of 4 Series: Hunt Test, Hunt Savy, Field Trial, and Hybrid.

SRSC = Super Retriever Series Champion : This is a title earned by competing and winning 1st place in the Super Retriever Series Crown Championship. The SRS Crown Championship is an annual event.

SRS = Super Retriever Series : This is a title earned by competing in an SRS Club Event or SRS Classic Event and winning 1st place in the Open Division.

SRSA = Super Retriever Series Amateur : This is a title earned by competing in an SRS Club Event or SRS Classic Event and winning 1st place in the Amateur Division.